-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The day Harry Potter fans have been waiting for is here . On Friday , Universal Studios is opening its `` Wizarding World of Harry Potter '' attraction at Universal 's Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando , Florida .

The park-within-a-park , as it 's being called , recreates various locations , scenes and other elements from the wildly popular book and movie series . Harry Potter has beaten out fellow Brit celluloid character James Bond as the top-grossing film series in history .

One of the reasons Harry Potter is so successful is its legions of fans , both young and old .

Alex Black is one of them . She and her family made a special trip to Orlando from Georgia to be guests at a `` soft opening '' of the park a couple of weeks ago .

She was one of the first to catch a glimpse of Hogwarts , the fictional boarding school for young wizards , and to drink some `` butterbeer '' at the attraction .

According to 16-year-old Alex , `` it 's worth waiting hours in line , it 's worth the money , it 's worth the long drive from Georgia , it 's beyond worth it . '' When asked what her favorite part of the park was , she responded , `` Everything was my favorite . ''

Alex , like millions of other `` muggles '' around the world , has been a long-time fan of the boy wizard , Potter , and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger , since the first author J.K. Rowling 's seven-book series debuted .

`` I 've grown up with Harry Potter . I 've brought all the books they came out , I dressed up for Harry Potter spirit day at my school . And when I 'll be a senior , the last -LRB- movie -RRB- -- when Harry is like that age , as a senior -- will come out . So , he 's kind of like the family pet in a way , '' she said .

iReport : Share your photos , reviews of `` Potter '' theme park

And it 's not just the teenagers who are just wild about Harry .

Laura Boyles , a 55-year-old mother and book store employee from Orlando , said , `` I ca n't wait to go to the park -- I 'm so excited for it to open . I love the Harry Potter series . ''

Alex agrees , `` He 's a generational thing ; we 've grown up with him . My grandpa and my aunt like him too . It 's just something that I 've grown up with . ''

Alex is happy that the Wizarding World opened when it did . `` When I read the last book it was almost like the end , I still had the movies , but I was afraid it would be over , but the park is a way for it to live on . ''

Widespread industry speculation has it that Universal shelled out some $ 265 million for this Potter project , although officials are not confirming that number .

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Universal 's `` Wizarding World '' officially opens Friday

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Orlando attraction built around Harry Potter books and movies

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Harry Potter has surpassed James Bond as top-grossing film series in history